Waking up on a Saturday morning to minus temperatures and icy conditions with the intention to leave the warm confinements of a comfortable bed isn’t something that those not of a football background would relish, however whisper the sweet words of ‘away day’ in the ear of a football enthusiast and watch them bolt out of the stalls like a lurcher that hasn’t been around the track for a fortnight!
It was an early start for the travelling Shoe Army heading to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium due to the ever considerate (insert sarcastic tone here) time constraints that a certain broadcaster feel is acceptable for TV coverage, and whilst far from the worst example in terms of distance travelled so early in the day, in my opinion only further demonstrates the dwindling importance to key decision makers of travelling fans. Whilst this is indeed no laughing matter, we football fans have a way of adapting and making the most of such circumstances, evidenced by the full breakfast and inebriant(s)that accompanied it we enjoyed – after all, it was 5 o’clock somewhere I’m sure!
With full stomachs, the distinct aroma of bacon fat and a sense of ‘we could get a result today you know’ in the air, we set off for Northampton train station, a short Uber ride away. Boarding the 09:10 train along with a number of others within the Cobblers contingent, it was a rather buoyant journey for the time of day, fuelled by the aforementioned inebriants and optimism of most of the travelling Cobblers on board. Following two changes, encounters with other well-wishing travelling fans and conversations centred around methodical predictions of what the game ahead of us may hold, we arrived at our destination, Burton-Upon-Trent train station.
First port of call (if you discount the toilet) was of course the closest pub to the ground, which after another short Uber journey of approx. 10-15 mins, we arrived at. Three pints of the black stuff was the order of choice, enjoyed within the characteristic and atmospheric walls of ‘The Beech Hotel,’ a well-renowned haven for away fans visiting the Pirelli Stadium. During our visit, I met the lovely Millie, a self-confessed away crowd reveller, who with her warm nature made us as a fan base feel very welcome and was even kind enough to pose for a photo or two with the Shoe Army. Offering a quality pint (or considerably more in our case), plenty of banter and a welcoming aura, The Beech Hotel is the perfect place for an away fan to enjoy their pre-match delights – we cannot thank Millie & her team enough for the fantastic treatment whilst there!
It was then time to head to the ground in anticipation of kick off, and upon arrival, we were presented with a ‘newer’ sort of ground having been built in 2005, however there was still a feeling of tradition around the place. We were housed in the ‘Away Terrace,’ a safe standing area that provided a real old school feel resembling that of a much older ground and something I personally prefer to your more modern ‘sit down, be quiet and enjoy the game’ type approaches you see so much more frequently these days. For me, it provides a real sense of freedom to express yourself when on that 90 minute rollercoaster of emotions.
With a total attendance of 2837 on the day, it’s fair to say us away fans made up a fair proportion of the attendance and with a close to sell out allocation, the shoe army could be heard making our contribution to the atmosphere.
A far from classic game contested by one side rooted to the bottom of the table and the other not far above, it was fair to say the game lacked quality and definitely only served to showcase two teams low on confidence and in poor form for large parts. That said, what the game lacked in quality, it made up for in fighting spirit with both sides desperate for a result, which really added to the intensity of the game resulting in some full-blooded tackles flying in, which is as far as the action went in the first half with very little in the way of actual chances created. As the game progressed and we moved into the second half, both teams made changes and attempted to take a more attacking approach with Burton creating some decent chances and the Cobblers ‘keeper being called into action, making some top saves on a couple of occasions. It was however the mighty Cobblers who came away with the spoils, a hard fought 3 points and well-earned clean sheet to boot with impassioned chants of ‘we are staying up’ ringing out at full time further demonstrating the need for 3 points.
A special mention must go to a man, who considered by many within the stands of Sixfields Stadium as a modern-day legend, has come to the aid of The Cobblers on many occasions with important goals and big performances when it matters the most – our very own ‘Super’ Sam Hoskins. A deflected winner when we needed it the most being the latest instalment in a catalogue of vital contributions produced whilst donning the famous claret & white, and all on his 400th appearance for the club, a feat rarely achieved at this level of football. This, for me, epitomises the model footballer and someone that should be showcased as a role model to the youth, rather than your £350k per week poster boys plying their overpaid trade in the glitz & glamour of the Premier League. With far too many examples of this nature for my liking, I for one salute players such as Sam for their dedication to their clubs, its fans, their wider communities and being able to provide fans with truly special moments time and time again. I’m sure we’ll be chanting ‘Hoskins again ole, ole’ a fair few more times before the season reaches it’s close.
A big thank you to Tom Harvey the man behind this Awayday Blog!
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